Electricity generating apparatus



March 15, 1932. F, B HAUGEN 1,849,574

ELECTRICITY GENERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 22, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l A llomey March 15, 1932. B, HAUGEN 1,849,574

ELECTRICITY GENERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 22, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor A llorney March 15, 1932. B, HAUGEN ELECTRICITY GENERATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 22, 1930 Invenlor 25917673 A/dzyen Allomeg March 15, 1932. B, HAUGEN ELECTRICITY GENERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 22, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Allomey Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFEE FRANCIS B. HAUG-EN, F BROGKSBURG, NEBRASKA ELECTRICITY GENERATING APPARATUS This invention relates to an improved outof-doors apparatus for generating electricity, and it has more particular reference to a wind-mill like structure for actuating a generator, whereby to develop current for domestic and household usage, especially in rural districts.

Briefly stated, the invention comprehends a suitable stationary support preferably in the n ture of a tower, the same being provided with upper and lower vertically spaced bearings to accommodate the rotary supporting shaft of an especially designed head structure, said head structure embodying a propeller, a generator, a drive between the propeller and generator, and anew type wind vane arrangement.

In accordance with the inventive conception, I have evolved and produced a structure of the aforesaid general type, wherein the primary novelty resides in the particular construction of the turnable head construction, and more specifically in the details and relative arrangement of the features con- 2 stituting the adjustable wind vane, whereby to permit the latter part to be readily dis posed in an ineffective position whenever desired or necessary.

The mechanical co-ordination of elements constituting the important features of the complete structure will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the upper portion of the tower and the especial rotatable head structure thereon.

Figure 2 is a view like Figure 1 with certain of the parts shown in vertical section and elevation to disclose the relative arrangement of said parts.

Figures 3 and 4 are horizontal sectional views on the lines 33 and 44 respectively of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a clutch collar.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1 with the direction vane swung to a position parallel to the generator drive whereby to throw it in an out-of-theway position.

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the arrangementdisclosed in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an especially designed casting constituting an important part of the head construction.

In the drawings, and particularly in Figure 2, it will be observed that the support is in the nature of a tower 9 and this embodies suitable legs 10 fastened at their upper ends to a bearing 11. Underneath of the bearing 11 and between the upper portions of the legs is a spider 12 having a centralized bearing 13 in vertical alinement with the bearing 11.

These bearings 11 and 13 serve to accommodate the rotary shaft 14 constituting the primary supporting means for the head structure. This shaft is of tubular or hollow construction. Attached to the upper end of the tower is an annulus 15 of electricity insulation material and this is provided with a surrounding col ector ring 16 from which the current delivery wire 17 extends.

Associated with this ring is a U-shaped or horse-shoe shaped brush or contact 1nen1-- ber 17 whose arms embrace the collector ring. This is carried by a bracket on a supporting plate or base 18 for the generator 19 as shown in Figure 1. The electricity conductor 20 connects with the belt 17 and with the generator from a suitable grounding means also provided as illustrated in Figure 1.

Incidently, the base plate for the generator includes a retaining clamp 21 which embraces the tubular shaft 14 to securely mount the plate 18 thereon.

The numeral 22 designates as a unit, an especially designed casting embodying a sleeve 28 rigidly fastened to the upper end portion of the tubular shaft 14:. This sleeve is formed at its bottom with a semi-circular abutment or extension 2 1 constituting stop means and forming a part of a clutch arrangement. The body portion of the casting is in the form of an upright 25 having its upper curvat-e extremity provided with a pulley 26. The numeral 27 designates a bracket arm.

Carried on the lower end portion of the body 25 is an axle 28 on which the aeroplane propeller 29 is mounted. This propeller includes a pulley 30. The pulley is located for co-operation with a companion pulley 31 on the generator shaft and a belt 32 is trained over these pulleys. It is obvious then that rotation of the propeller serves to turn the generator shaft to develop the electric current. I

I now call attention to supporting pins 33 which serve to hold in place a washer 34 disposed in vertically spaced relation just beneath the clutch element 24 of the sleeve 23. The companion clutch element is indicated by the numeral 25 in Figure 5, and this comprises a collar 36 embracing the shaft and resting on the end thrust washer 34. It also includes an arcuate lug or stop element- 37 co-operating with the companion element 24.

Then too, there is an outwardly extending arm 38 terminating in a horizontal bearing 39. Then too a pivot pintle 40 is mounted in this hearing and serves as a connection for an arm 41 as seen in Figure 3. This arm constitutes a carrier for the blade or vane 42 as generally represented in Figure I 1. 'On this arm intermediate the ends is a bracket 43 in which a brace 44 is mounted. The brace is in the nature of a rod and connects at its inner end to the pintle 40 and extends at its outer end through the laterally directed terminal of the bracket 43, said extending end being provided with retaining nuts 45 for a shock-absorbing coil spring 46.

This arrangement allows the entire wind vane and carrier structure to be elevated from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 7. This is accomplished through the use of a flexible cable 47 which is shown in Figure 1 connected to the arm 41 at a point near the vane 42. The cable extends down over the pulley 26 down through the tubing or tubular shaft 14 to a point within the vicinity of the ground where it may be conveniently attached to a windlass or equivalent device for mechanically raising and lowering the vane structure and allowing it to be swung from a position at right angles to the propeller, to a position parallelthereto as indicated in Figure 6.

When in the latter position, the vane structure is ineffective. To accomplish this it will be observed that the aforesaid bracket arms 27 are offset slightly.

A push-pull link 43 has ball and socket connection as at 49 with this bracket arm. Then too, there is a universal joint 50 at the opposite end connecting the link with the adjacent end portion of the arm 41. Exerting a downward pull on the cable 47 serves to lift the vane carrier arm 41 against the tension of the cushioning and shock-absorbing spring 46. The provision of the link 48 and the offset arrangement of the arm 27 produces a lateral twist which is converted into.

rotary motion turning the entire vane 22, arm 41 and clutch collar 35 one-quarter of a turn, permitting the vane to be moved from the effective directional position shown in Figure 2 to the out-of-the-way position shown in Figure 6.

As before stated, in the last-named position, the blade 42 is parallel to the propeller. When the cable 47 is loosened and the arm 41 permitted to lower, the parts are returned to normal position, during which time the spring 46 serves as a shock absorbing element.

In operation, it is obvious that with the construction in the position represented in Figure 2, the wind will rotate the propeller :29. This in turnwill drive the pulleys to actuatethe generator 19. The generator will develop current which is conducted through the wire 20 to the brush 17 and from the brush to the collector ring 16.

A suitable terminal is associated with the collector ring and the wire 16a is connected with the ring and leadsto a switchbox or other control device within the vicinity of the place of usage of the current. I

With the device set as shown in Figure 2,

the head is turned through the medium of the vane structure where it is placed to best advantage to develop power according to the directional motion of the wind. When, however, it is desired to prevent turning of the head, the vane structure is moved from the lowered position in Figure 2 to the elevated position in Figure 7, at which time it is in spaced parallel relationship with the drive pulleys of the generator. 7

- In accomplishingthis ineffective displacement of the vane and carrier structure, the clutch means already described comes into play. The co-action of the stop elements 37 and 24 limits the swinging or rotary motion of the collar 35. The turning motion of the collar is produced through the action of the elevation of the arm 41 by exerting a downward pull on the cable 47.

Due to the peculiar thrust exerted through the link 48 on the offset arm 27, the carrier arm 41 is thus swung from Figure 2 position to Figure 6 position.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to i actual practice if desired.

I claim In a structure of the class described in combination a tower, a perpendicular shaft mounted for rotation in said tower and having a part extending above the top of the tower, a casting on the upper end of said shaft, a propeller carried by said casting, a spaced plate clamped to the shaft at the top of the tower, an annular member of non-conducting material connected with the top of the tower and located immediately under the plate, a collector ring supported by said annular member, a yoke shaped member having its front adjacent the ring, means for sup- N porting the yoke shaped member from the under side of the plate, a generator supported by the plate, electrically connected to the supporting means for the yoke-shaped member, and means for operating the generator from the propeller.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature,

FRANCIS B. HAUGEN. 

